Deurne based Beech A36 Bonanza N39AD (c/n E316) private aircraft has made a wheels up landing at Antwerp airport around 14h30L. The pilot who was alone in his aircraft escaped without injuries. The airport had to be closed for 1 1/2 hours to clear the runway. The aircraft suffered damage to the under surfaces and the propeller. Source: GvA  - pictures of incident at Airshows.be - picture of N39AD at Airliners.net

Three Belgian Siai Marchetti SF-260M/D basic trainers are to participate in a squadron exchange at Sion airbase in Switzerland between March 30th and April 1st 2009. Six Belgian pilots are to participate in this exchange. It was also announced that the Swiss Air Force will come to Belgium in July 2009 for a return visit with the new Pilatus PC-21. Source: Swiss Air Force website

The Belgian Defence Ministry has published the request for proposals for the public sale of 23 Alouette II helicopters. The sale will be divided into three lots A (8 helicopters), B (8 helicopters) and C (7 helicopters) and with an estimated total value of 500.000 Euros. For those interested, follow this link (pdf.).

The Royal Netherlands Air Force has expanded the scope of a three year contract with the Pratt & Whitney Belgium Engine Center to include repair of F100-PW-220 engine air seals. The three year contract signed in 2008 has an estimated value of more than $5M. The Pratt & Whitney Belgium Engine Center is a military aftermarket engine center located in Liege, Belgium, servicing the European region. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. company. Source: Defence-aerospace.com

24/03 - Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines expand partnership

With the introduction of the summer timetable on 29 March 2009, Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines will provide many additional tangible benefits for their joint customers. Besides offering code-share services on cross-border flights between Germany and Belgium and to other destinations in Europe, the two airlines will launch a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement, allowing members to earn and redeem miles throughout the partner’s network. Moreover, at the start of the summer timetable, Brussels Airlines will move into the same terminal as Lufthansa at Hamburg Airport. From then on, fares offered by both airlines on cross-border flights will be combinable. In other words, passengers in possession of a ticket for a round trip flight between Belgium and Germany will be able to take one flight with Lufthansa and the other with Brussels Airlines. From 29 March, Lufthansa’s and Brussels Airlines’ airport lounges will be open to all passengers travelling Business Class with either carrier. Status customers have enjoyed reciprocal lounge privileges already since February. Source: Brussels Airlines

The man behind the very successful military library and editors company "De Krijger", Koen Vanhabost has lost his combat against the illness he was fighting since over a year. For twenty years Koen has been the driving force behind the "De Krijger" company which grew from a modest enterprise to one of the main players in the world of military- and aeronautical publications. By offering amateur writers and researchers a platform to publish the results of their work Koen has really revolutionised the world of history writing in our country and far beyond. For sure, our passion would not have looked the same without Koen. Our thoughts are with Riet, Koen's beloved wife. 

In the past weekend the Belgian Armed Forces have delivered the fifth and last Agusta A109BA to the African state of Benin. The Belgian Ministry of Defence had signed a contract with Benin in April 2007 for the delivery of 5 Agusta helicopters and 18 M-113 armed personnel carriers for the total amount of 2.7 million Euros. Five Benin pilots and 5 engineers have also been trained at Bierset airbase as part of the contract. Two Agusta's were delivered in August 2007 while two more followed earlier this year.  Due to changing priorities a number of Agusta helicopters were withdrawn from use and stored at the Zutendaal storage facility. As mentioned earlier Jordan might also be interested in acquiring a number of the surplus helicopters. Source: 7Sur7 

Belgian Defence Agusta A109BA Hirundo delivered to Beninese AF (5 a/c)

- H-04 send by C-130H to Benin on 08/07/2007, delivered on 22/08/2007 (s/n TY-32H)
- H-17 send by boat to Benin as technical airframe/spare parts on 17/07/2007, delivery date not known
- H-32 send by C-130H to Benin on 04/07/2007, delivered on 21/08/2007 (s/n TY-33H)
- H-37 send by C-130H to Benin on 21/03/2009, delivered on 24/03/2009 (s/n TY-34H ?)
- H-43 send by C-130H to Benin on 05/03/2009, delivered on 11/03/2009 (s/n TY-35H ?)

Remarks:
The C-130H Hercules that delivered early March the H-43 at Cotonou AB brought back to Belgium the H-32 (one of the two originally a/c delivered to Benin) for maintenance level at SABCA Gosselies. It is also to be noted that H-30 initially intended for Benin has been replaced for convenience by H-37

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over February 2009 published by Belgocontrol show a 18.76% overall drop (74.356 movements down from 91.527) compared to the same month one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 17.153 movements (-18.68%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 5.739 (-31.56%), Oostende 5.653 (-7.57%), Antwerpen-Deurne 4.799 (-16.29%) and Liège-Bierset: 3.046 (-27.65%). Canac controlled air traffic: 37.966 movements (-17.44%). Source: Belgocontrol

The Royal Jordanian Air Force has accepted eight more former Belgian Air Component Lockheed F-16AM and BM's. Piloted by Royal Jordanian Air Force pilots, the aircraft concerned left Kleine Brogel airbase in two flight (6 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon) and headed to their new home base at Al-Asraq (105 km North of Amman) with a refuelling stop at Aviano (Near Venice/Italy).  These 8 MLU F-16's are the second batch of 16 former Belgian fighters acquired by Jordan. Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (CD&V) has announced that he intends to sell 9 more F-16's to Jordan while Amman is also showing interest in acquiring some Agusta A109BA which the Belgian Defence keeps in storage at Zutendaal. Source:  7Sur7  -  Picture of line up before departure on 19/03

Belgian airline Jetairfly, a subsidiary of travel concern TUI, celebrates its fifth anniversary on March 20th 2009. Originally called TUI Airlines Belgium, the company only transported customers of tour operators Jetair, VIP Selection and Sunjets. Since then Jetairfly offers 74 destinations, 73 of which as scheduled flights. The Jetairfly fleet consists of 10 Boeing 737's (some of the next generation -700 and -800 series, and two Boeing 737-300 for intercontinental flights.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Having been confirmed by the General Staff and the Public Relation service of the Belgian Air Component it can now be revealed that a new demonstration team on the SIAI Marchetti SF260 has been created for the 2009 display season. Since several weeks, the new team is preparing and organising the demo, they will be present at various air shows and aerial manifestations in Belgium as well as through Europe. They will perform at the Koksijde Air Display 2009 on 4 and 5 July and of course also during the Beauvechain Open Door on July 21st organised to celebrate 40 years of Marchetti operations and 300.000 hours flown by the type with the Belgian Air Component.  Again composed of 4 aircraft, the team was named 'Hardship Red' originating from the call sign used by the Marchetti for training flights at Beauvechain. More information at Sierra Bravo Aeropics.   -    Picture.

Airline Onair is to fly a weekly scheduled flight between Charleroi airport and Naples in Southern Italy as of June 21st. The flight is outgoing on Sundays with a return flight on Thursdays in each case with an intermediate stop at Pescara. The Naples flight replaces the initially planned flight to Salerno. Onair also flies from Charleroi to Catania on Sicily. Source:  Het Laatste Nieuws.   

Low budget airline, Ryanair, announced that it will add one new Boeing 737-800 aircraft (now 8 in total) and open five new routes (now 44 in total) at its Brussels-South Charleroi base as from June. This brings Ryanair’s investment in Charleroi-Gosselies to eight aircraft worth over $560million. The five new routes from Charleroi to Brindisi, La Rochelle, Palma, Santiago and Turin and increased frequencies to Fez, Manchester, Marseille and Riga will increase Ryanair’s annual traffic at the regional airport to over 3 million which will sustain 3,000 local jobs. Source: Ryanair.

In presence of the Minister of Defence, Lockheed Hercules C-130H CH-13 was officially handed over to the Belgian Air Component by SABENA Technics on March 17th, 2009. CH-13 is a replacement aircraft for CH-02, which was lost in a nightly blaze that destroyed SABENA Technics’ hangar H40 at Brussels Airport on May 4th, 2006. After the destruction of CH-02 (c/n 4460, USAF s/n 71-1798), the Belgian Air Component decided to look for a replacement aircraft on the second hand market in order to bring its highly solicited fleet of tactical transport aircraft back to numerical strength. Selection of a replacement aircraft was conditional on the purchase price and costs for any repairs and all modifications up to Belgian Hercules fleet standards being covered by the insurance benefit. A suitable aircraft was found in Evergreen’s C-130E N130EV (c/n 4047, USAF s/n 64-0552), which arrived at Melsbroek Airbase on April 8th, 2007. Repair and modification work was contracted to SABENA Technics in Brussels and its subsidiary in Bordeaux, France. Repairs comprised among others replacement of 23 m² of metal sheeting and installation of 17 km of wiring. The more than 600 modifications to the aircraft encompassed not only bringing the Hercules from 1965 C-130E standards up to 1972 C-130H standards, but also incorporating all modifications carried out during the type’s 37 years of service with the Belgian Air Force / Air Component. Repair work was terminated on March 28th, 2008, while all modifications were carried out by June 16th, 2008. The aircraft was powered up for the first time on August 15th, 2008, while the first engine run-up took place on October 10th, 2008. It performed its maiden flight on December 19th, 2008, carrying test serial number CH-14. Flight testing consisted of 7 flights, totalling 28 flying hours. Source: and pics: Jos Schoofs - Pic:   01  -  02

The Council of Ministers has appointed Lieutenant General Charles-Henri Delcour as new Chief of Defence (CHOD). The General will take over the responsibilities from General August Van Daele on April 2nd 2006. Van Daele was the highest ranking military person since his appointment as CHOD on December 6th 2002.

Three Belgian aerospace companies have signed a contract worth over 800 million Euros with Airbus to produce wing leading edge slats for the planned new A350 airliner. Sonaca of Charleroi is to deliver the slats, Zaventem based Asco will produce the slat supports while BMT from Bruges is responsible for the moving mechanism. The contract covers the slats for some 800 aircraft but depending on the A350 sales could provides the companies with slat related work for over 20 years. Source: De Redactie

Avionics display provider Barco has achieved a new success with its control display unit on the civil aviation market. The company announced today that its CDMS-3000 display has been selected for the future ATR-42 and ATR-72 regional passenger aircraft. The next generation ATR cockpits will be equipped with a brand-new Thales TopDeck avionics suite, each including two Barco CDMS-3000 units. Qource: Barco

The coastal base of Koksijde, Adjt Vl F. Allaeys" has a new commander, Colonel aviator SBH Bruno Havermans. In a ceremony at the Sea King base, Colonel Havermans took over the reasonability’s as the 23rd commander from Colonel Aviator Rudy Theys, which in his turn becomes the West Flanders province Commandant. Source: Mil.be

The Flemish Airline VLM is launching a new route. Starting 4 May VLM will operate three daily flights between Antwerp Airport at Deurne and Frankfurt, Germany's financial capital. VLM will use Fokker 50 aircraft and fly in co-operation with Air France. The new route is the first tangible result in Belgium of the takeover of VLM by the Air France KLM Group. Frankfurt is the most important financial centre on the European mainland. VLM already operates flights from Antwerp to London and Manchester in the UK. The airline hopes to convey 40,000 passengers during the first year. Source : De Redactie

11/03 - Barco extends avionics offering with new generation Head-Up Display from Saab

Avionics display provider Barco has entered into an agreement with Saab, Stockholm, Sweden, to expand its avionics offering with the new generation RIGS Head Up Display from Saab. Under this agreement, Barco can offer its customers an even wider range of avionics-grade display solutions for the cockpit environment. Source: Barco

Mistakes have been made during the servicing of a number of airplanes by Sabena Technics at Brussels Airport. Investigators believe that the faults may have been caused on purpose. All aircraft that have been serviced since mid January have been re-examined. No further problems were uncovered. The Belgian Defence confirmed that one of the aircraft involved was the “new” Lockheed C-130H registered CH-13, which is to be delivered to the Air force on 17 March. It is believed that these actions are related to the announcement that 371 jobs were being axed. The company has a workforce of some 1.100 workers. Source: De Redactie

Twin-seat Lockheed F-16BM FB-14 fighter based at Kleine Brogel airbase had to make an emergency landing at Beauvechain airbase after the crew detected technical problems with the main undercarriage of the aircraft. The aircraft undercarriage was slightly damaged when the aircraft used the cable barrier deployed for such events. Beauvechain airbase was selected to make use of this emergency procedure as it is the only base equipped to deploy two arrester cables on the runway. The aircraft deploys an arrester hook similar to carrier based aircraft to make a full stop. Source: De Standaard

The engines of three Belgian F-16AM fighter bombers were damaged at Kandahar airbase (Afghanistan) by pebbles blown up by a nearby taxiing cargo aircraft. An Il-76 transporter was directed by error too close to the apron where the Belgian aircraft were parked. During the manoeuvring of the cargo some sand and pebbles were blown into three of the Belgian aircraft, damaging the reactor fan blades. One aircraft immediately received a new engine while the two others are awaiting the arrival from Belgian of replacement power plants to be flown in by C-130H Hercules. Source: La Libre

 A Jetairfly.com Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Jet4You, registration OO-JAQ performing flight TB-533/8J-533 from Brussels Charleroi (Belgium) to Casablanca (Morocco) with 172 passengers and 7 crew, was cleared to land on runway 35R at Casablanca in foggy conditions but visibility of about 6000 meters and on final approach with 4 aircraft waiting for takeoff at the adjacent taxiway and holding point, when an unknown pilot called "Go Around" on the radio frequency, prompting the Jetairfly crew to abort the landing at around 200 feet AGL and initiate a go around. The airplane landed safely a couple of minutes later. SOurce and more information: The Aviation Herald

Belgium will stick to its contract to acquire 7 Airbus Military Company A400M transport aircraft in which it has invested some 174.5 million Euros, Minister of Defence Pieter de Crem (CD&V) has reconfirmed at the Chamber's Defence Commission. Belgium has ordered 7 A400M aircraft in 2003 to replace the ageing Lockheed C-130H transports of the 15th Transport Wing. Delays have postponed the delivery of the first aircraft from the end of this year until the end of 2012 which made Germany doubt if it will remain in the programme. Minister De Crem has also confirmed the three year delay and announced that he is in 'informal talks" with the other partners in the project. Source: Belga

Germany may soon decide to abandon the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft because of delays to Europe's biggest military programme, a German magazine reported on Saturday. Der Spiegel reported if Airbus does not soon explain whether and how it can solve the problems, German procurement officials would advise Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung to end the contract. The weekly quoted Defence Ministry sources. Source and more info: Reuters

25/02 - Special "grey" paint “40th Anniversary” Marchetti has made its first flight today.

Tuesday March 3rd will mark the 40th anniversary of Marchetti operations with the Belgian Air Force. This will be celebrated during the Wings Parade with a special fly-by and for the occasion two Marchetti's will be painted in a special all grey livery.  The first “grey” Marchetti (ST-40) has made its maiden flight from Beauvechain airbase today.

Two Lockheed F-16AM fighters of the Florennes based 2nd Wing went supersonic over Evergem (just North of Gent) to intercept an airliner which lost all radio-contact with the ground stations. Since the 9/11 terrorist-attacks such rare instances are taken very seriously and are regarded as a threat. The two fighters were scrambled to intercept and identify the aircraft while radio contact was re-established over the North Sea. An faulty frequency was at the origin of this incident. Source: De Redactie

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) has signed a leasing contract with Oostende based company Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen for one Dauphin AS-365N2 and one AS-365N3 helicopters. The aircraft will be using for Search and Rescue missions along the French coast and will replace the venerable SA.321G Super Frelon. Total value of the contract without tax is 26.5 million Euros which includes also the detachment of a NHV technician. Noordzee Helicopters Vlaanderen is based at Oostende and has a fleet of six Dauphin helicopters and two Eurocopter EC-175 on order. Source: Le portail des Sous-Marins  - First pictures of the AS-365N3 helicopter OO-NHV (c/n 6510) in Marine Nationale colours by Michael Vaeremans at Airliners.net : -1-  &  - 2-

The cooperation between Brussels Airlines and its Congolese partner airline Hewa Bora Airways may end. As of April 1st 2009 Hewa Bora reclaims its rights on the Brussels-Kinshasa line which it leased to Brussels Airlines. Hewa Bora can't use its own aircraft on the line as it figures on the European Union airline "black list". However they can lease an aircraft of another European airline such as for example KLM.  The end of the collaboration between both airlines also endangers the AirDC project in which both companies were to create an airline to operate from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighbouring countries. Source: De Standaard.

The monthly statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over January 20098 published by Belgocontrol show a 12.80% overall drop (74.779 movements down from 85.756) compared to the same month one year earlier. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 17.353 movements (-18.35%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 6.405 (+.22%), Antwerpen-Deurne 4.814 (+7.70%), Oostende: 4.589 (-4.11%) and Liège-Bierset: 2.967 (-9.71%). Canac controlled air traffic: 38.651 movements (-16.00%). Source: Belgocontrol

A Belgian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft with some 60 para troopers on board had to make an emergency landing at its home base Melsbroek near Brussels. Immediately after take-off the pilots had indications of a fire and overheating in two of the aircrafts four engines. The Hercules returned to make an emergency landing in which it blew one of its tires but fortunately no one on board was injured.  The runway adjacent to the military base remained blocked for one hour without provoking delays to the normal traffic at Zaventem's Brussels Airport. Source: Le Soir. 

Over January 2009 some 33.100 tonnes of freight were handled at Zaventem which is 50% less compared to the same month one year earlier. This can partly be explained by the departure of DHL and the fact that the Chinese New Year was celebrated this year in January. Due to the economical crisis many airlines use smaller aircraft which in turn decrease freight traffic on scheduled flights.  The number of passengers using Brussels Airport also show a drop of some 15% compared to January 2008. In total slightly over 1 million passengers used the airport. Source: deredactie.be

According to the daily "La Libre", low budget airline Ryanair is to base two more Boeing 737 aircraft at its Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA). Already in 2009 one of these aircraft will join five Ryanair aircraft based at the Walloon airport.  According to the same source, Ryanair is considering opening two more destinations from Charleroi; La Rochelle (France) and Santander (Spain). Source: La Libre

Between March 1st and 14the 2009 Kleine Brogel based 349 Squadron is to participate in the Forward Air Controller (FAC) exercise Serpentex 09 at Corsica (F.). The goals of this exercise organised by the French Armée de l'Air are:   To improve combat ready FACs' training in an Operational environment - To drop live ordnance - Execute Operational missions related to Afghanistan (urban CAS, Convoy escort...) within the Operational chain of command - To execute day and night CAS (Close Air Support) in a JOINT and COMBINED environment. Source: Mil.be

Members of the Association of European Airlines, which represents Europe’s major network airlines, boarded almost 366 million passengers in 2008, 5.4 million fewer than in 2007. However, as AEA points out, the decrease was triggered by a restructuring in some Domestic markets. Using the standard industry measure of passenger-kilometres, traffic registered a small increase, of 1.2%.  “We have seen figures as weak as these on only three occasions in the last 25 years”, said AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus: “in 1986, when Chernobyl and the US bombing of Libya caused major disruptions in travel patterns, in 1991 when the first Gulf War had a similar effect, and in 2001-2002 following the 9/11 attacks. This time the upheavals are economic, and likely to be more powerful and longer-lasting than the external shocks of the past”. The AEA December figures gave an indication of just how much the market has weakened. Passenger traffic was 3.5% down on December 2007, with every route area showing a decrease except Europe-Middle East which posted a plus 6.3%. Cargo traffic showed a catastrophic decline of 21.4%, by far the steepest on record. “We have no reason to suppose that we are at, or even approaching, the bottom of the cycle”, said Mr Schulte-Strathaus. He pointed to a remarkable development in the capacity figures: “Nineteen of our member airlines reduced seat capacity in December, eight of them by more than 10% – yet, overall, the traffic decline was still greater than the capacity cutbacks”. While conditions in the industry were severe, said Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, the airlines were not looking for handouts. “We are not jumping on the bail-out bandwagon”, he said. “We are working closely with our regulators to identify ways in which pressures on the industry can be relieved. We cannot afford to take on any further cost burdens arising from ill-considered legislation, and we desperately need the benefits of the Single European Sky programme to begin to flow”. Source: AEA report. (pdf)

16/02 - New book “Patrouilles Acrobatiques Mondiales” by Jean-Philippe Hannus announced

Famous aerial photographer Jean-Philippe Hannus announces his book on the worlds aerobatic teams called: "Patrouilles Acrobatiques Mondiales". Hannus was able to fly with many of the famous aerobatic team all over the world and the collected pictures and information are now gathered in this book containing 192 pages of pictures and text in French which is announced for the end of 2009. Ordering information and more details can be found on the dedicated website: Patrouilles Acrobatiques Mondiales

Squadron Leader Terry Spencer, former Commanding Officer of N° 350 Squadron has passed away on February 7th 2009, aged 90. Source and more information at: Times On Line.

Airbus will not deliver its first A400M military transport aircraft before the end of 2012, and the delays are exacerbating tensions within the European aircraft maker's management, newspapers reported. Le Figaro said that delays could cost Airbus an overall 5 billion euros ($6.45 billion), and citing a note Airbus Military sent to European arms buying organisation OCCAR, it said the Toulouse-based aircraft maker was planning a test flight for the A400M only in early 2010 and a first delivery at the end of that year. A second delivery is guaranteed by the end of 2013. Source: Reuters

Antwerp based business aviation organisation Flyinggroup is selling its airport handling activities at Paris' Le Bourget to JetEx Flight Support of Dubai. Because of the economic crisis the Flyinggroup management has made the strategic decision to concentrate on its core business which is to provide tailor made aviation solutions. Bernard Van Milders, CEO of Flyinggroup said the company wants to invest and expand in business aviation throughout Europe. The company recently acquired extra aircraft and is in the process of creating a branch in Luxembourg. Source: HLN

Belgian aeronautical company Sonaca has signed a contract with Bombardier of Canada for the study, development and production of fixed wing leading edges for the new Learjet LJ85. This deal is expected to generate a 19.6 million Euros turnover and first series production is expected for 2012. The study phase and certification programme alone will generate some 20.000 man hours. Source: 7sur7. 

Some 750 Belgian troops and one Lockheed C-130H Hercules transport aircraft are involved in an exercise code named “Kassowokpo Dassa 09” in the African country Benin. Besides the Belgian and Benin military personnel are a number of West African troops also participate in the exercise which takes place between 17 January and 12 February 2009 in the Savlaou-Dassa-Savé and Kétou regions of Benin. Source: Benin24

The Board of Directors of SABCA has appointed Mr Daniel BLONDEEL as the new Chief Executive Officer of the company. His nomination will be effective on 01 February 2009. He will replace Mr Remo Pellichero who retires after 14 years passed at the helm of SABCA. Mr Pellichero remains Chairman of the Boards of SABCA and SABCA LIMBURG nv, the fully owned composite subsidiary of SABCA. Source: Sabca

The third brand-new Boeing 737-800 for Jetairfly has been delivered to Brussels-Zaventem. The aircraft registered OO-JAQ arrived from the Boeing plant at Seattle after making a fuel stop at Iceland. The new 737 offers 189 passengers seats and will be used at mid range flights to the Mediterranean coasts, Canary Island, Red Sea and the Cape Verde Islands. Source and more information at: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (Cd&V) has said that the first of the new NH90 helicopters will be delivered to the Belgian Air Component in June 2011. In May 2007 the Belgian Government decided to order 4 NH90 NFH (the dedicated marine version), 4 NH90 TTH (the land version) and took an option on two more TTH's for a total value of over 300 million Euros. The new aircraft are to replace the Westland Sea King and Alouette III helicopters. Detail delivery schedule is 4NFH in June 2011, September 2011, November 2011 and January 2012. Still according to De Crem the four TTH versions will be delivered in April 2012, September 2012, December 2012 and the final machine in February 2013. Source HLN   

Between January 26th and 29th 2009 Beauvechain airbase is again hosting an exercise in the "Deployed Falcon" series. This test being the second of three Belgian exercises (2x Deployed Falcon and 1 National Evaluation) in preparation of the final Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) by some 150 NATO evaluators which will take place in May 2009. Belgian Defence is expecting to obtain a Full Mission Capability Rating for its NRF. Eight F-16's from Florennes and Kleine Brogel airbases together with some 600 men and woman deployed to the "Host Nation at Kanaalland" (Deployed Operating Base Beauvechain). More next week in a BAHA Special Feature. Picture page.

27/01 - Charleroi introduces new Cat.3 Instrument Landing System (ILS)

Brussels South - Charleroi Airport (BSCA) has introduced a new Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ILS) which will allow aircraft to land at the airport with visibility limited to 200 meters. Within 6 months this limit will even be lowered to 150 meters. In 2008 some 120 flight had to be diverted over some 20 days due to bad weather, with the new system this will be something of the past. Source: Express.be

Air Component Dassault 20E CM-01 has suffered a minor landing incident at Antwerp-Deurne Airport as it was noticed on a taxi track (next to the Krijgsbaan-Borsbeek) near runway 11/29. The aircraft was jacked up and one or more tires being replaced by Air Force personnel. Source: http://www.VIPER16.fotopic.net and picture by Dirk A. Geerts

Air passengers’ hope for a world class terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos may soon be realised, as a yet unnamed Belgian construction firm is already finalising plans with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to build a new terminal. The plan by the Belgian firm is in response to a call by the Federal Government for public private participation (PPP) in running of the aviation sector. Lagos airport opened on March 15, 1979 and is named after the late head of state, Murtala Muhammed; it was modelled after Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The development will bring to fruition the initial plan to extend the international wing of the airport to four terminals. Source: Business Day

Over 2008 Brussels Airport has handled some 18.5 million passengers or a 3.6% increase compared with one year earlier. This growth can mainly be attributed to good results in the beginning of the year with the increase of long distance destinations.  By the end of the year and influenced of the economic crisis a drop of passengers was noted. Freight traffic decreased over 2008 with 15.6% to 661.100 tonnes as a direct result of the departure of DHL to Leipzig.   Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The annual statistics on air traffic and airport movements in Belgium over the year 2008 published by Belgocontrol show a 1.50% increase (1.147.324 movements up from 1.130.332) compared to 2007. Airport statistics give the following figures: Brussels Airport: 258.795 movements (-2.11%), Charleroi-Brussels South: 97.340 (+6.13%), Oostende 80.962 (+7.33%), Antwerpen-Deurne 73.912 (+5.57%) and Liège-Bierset: 50.507 (.-0.03%). Canac controlled air traffic: 585.808 movements (+1.30%). Source: Belgocontrol

Belgian business jet operator Flyinggroup has been selected as a maintenance company for jets of leading aircraft manufacturer Cessna. This makes Flyinggroup part of the select group of fewer than 35 aviation companies worldwide which are recognised as Cessna service centers. With this accreditation, Flyinggroup will participate at Antwerpen - Deurne airport in maintaining the more than 800 Cessna business jets operating in Europe. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws & Flyinggroup

Almost 1 out of two passengers of Brussels Airlines checks in via the home computer or via the "Self Check In" machines on the airport. Last year 1.1 million Brussels Airlines passengers took advantage of this time saving possibility offered by the Belgian Airline. In view of the success (+30% last year) Brussels Airlines is to install Self Check In machines at other airports such as Vienna, Geneva, Copenhagen and Oslo. Source: Brussels Airlines.

The return of some one hundred men and woman of the first rotation of operation “Guardian Falcon” (see BAHA's Special Feature “Operation Guardian Falcon”) has been delayed by one day due to technical problems with an Air Component Airbus A310 aircraft at Dushanbe in Tajikistan. In order to minimise this delay to its personnel the Belgian Defence has asked the French Armée de l'Air to provide an Airbus A340 to fly them home. The men and woman returning home today are for the majority based at Florennes airbase and have been operational at Kandahar, Afghanistan for over 4 months in support of the Belgian detachment of 4 F-16AM fighters for the NATO led ISAF. Since early this year they have been relieved by personnel drawn from Kleine Brogel airbase.  Source: Belga

12/01 - New bus service links Dutch cities of Utrecht, Rotterdam and Breda with Brussels Airport

As of next March, 1st a new bus service will link Brussels Airport at Zaventem with the Dutch cities of Utrecht, Rotterdam and Breda. The service called "Brussels Airport Express" is an initiative of several Airlines, Brussels Airport Company and the Belgian transport company De Decker-Van Riet. A return ticket will cost 37.50€ and the arrival times at Zaventem will be adjusted to the departures of international flights. Source: Luchtvaartnieuws 

Hungarian low cost airline Wizz Air is to open a new base at Prague airport and opens six new destinations including Brussels-South Charleroi airport and Eindhoven. The new links with Prague will be inaugurated on February 19th and will be flown four times a week. For Charleroi this is the sixth destination flown by Wizz Air including already Warsaw, Katowice, Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia.  Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

Defence and aerospace giant EADS called for a "new approach" for its embattled A400M program, in which the first delivery of the military transport plane would come no sooner than 2012. EADS and its Airbus Military unit said they are recommending a new start to production "only once adequate maturity is reached, based on flight test results." In a statement, they said Airbus Military is working with engine developers "to firm up a date for the first flight.” With this proposed new approach, the first delivery of the A400M would then occur around three years after first flight" the statement said. A report in French business daily Les Echos in November said first delivery of the aircraft had been scheduled for the end of 2010, already a year later than first planned. Source: National Examiner

An Air Component Lockheed C-130H is to transport the Belgian special intervention team B-Fast and supplies the Egyptian city of El-Arish, some 60 kilometres from the Gaza border. The team consists of medics, consular officials and translators. The idea is to evacuate wounded children from Gaza and take them to hospitals in Egypt or, if necessary to Belgium and this in coordination with the authorities, hospitals and humanitarian groups.  Source: VRT-De Redactie

The European Commission has extended the deadline for its competition review of Lufthansa's bid to acquire Brussels Airlines parent SN Airholding by 12 days to 26 January 2008. This postponement is the result of the fact that Lufthansa has made concessions to the European Commission that can be important for the investigation.  The parties involved had informed the Commission of their intended transaction in late November 2009. In a first stage, Lufthansa would take 45% of Brussels Airlines through a capital increase of €65 million ($89.4 million) following the regulatory clearance. It holds an option to buy the rest as from 2011. (See also BAHA News of 12/09 and 25/09/2008). Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.

The first regional airport statistics for the year 2008 are available with the following results:
Antwerpen: 177.000 passengers or an increase of  8.7% - no freight  
Brussels South - Charleroi: 2.957.026 passengers or an increase of 20% - no freight
Liège-Bierset: 400.281 passengers or an increase of 20.25% - freight 518.50 tonnes or an increase of 5.89%
Oostende: 199.958 passengers or an increase of 11% - freight 82.920 tonnes or a loss of 23.9%
Wevelgem: 17.948 passengers or a loss of 2.1% - no freight

Australian low cost airline Jetstar said it is interested in starting new air links from Brussels South-Charleroi Airport. The Australian ambassador in Belgium is said to have talked with the direction of the Walloon airport. The project could start within two years. Jetstar is the low-cost daughter company of Quantas and want to operate Airbus aircraft from Charleroi. This however means that the runway has to be extended to handle the bigger aircraft. Source: Express.be

A detachment of personnel of the Kleine Brogel based 10the Tactical Wing commanded by Major Jeroen Poesen has flown to Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan to relieve the first deployment of men drawn from the 2 Wing of Florennes which were on post since September 2008. Chief of Defence General August Van Daele has confirmed the information that Belgian F-16 fighter-bombers have been using their weapons "in anger" at some occasions during normally pre-planned missions but also during Quick-reaction Alert (QRA) missions. All operations were conducted according to the "rules of engagement" mandated by the Belgian Government. Source: La Libre

Four aircraft inbound to Charleroi (Brussels South - Charleroi Airport or BSCA) had to diverted to the French airports of Lille and Beauvais due to the heavy snow. Two other flights which were planned today were cancelled. “If it continues snowing, more problems are to be expected" according to David Guering, Commercial director of BSCA. Bierset airport near Liège does suffer of the heavy snow and remains operational. Source: 7Sur7

Jordan is finalising the acquisition of nine more F-16 fighters from the Belgian Government which will be added to the 16 Falcons already acquired from the Air Component by that country. Belgian Minister of Defence Pieter De Crem (CD&V) is expecting the green light by the inspection of the Finance Ministry by the end of January or early February before the formal F-16 contract can be signed. The aircraft concerned are still operational but fit in the planned force reduction programme which will brings the number of operational F-16's from 72 to 60 aircraft. Jordan also expressed an interest in an unspecified number of Agusta A109BA helicopters, eight of which are kept in storage. Source: Belga - see also BAHA's Special feature: When Belgian Falcons become (Royal) Jordanian Falcons.